Griffith College Dublin

Griffith College Dublin
Coláiste Uí Ghríofa, Baile Átha Cliath
Griffith College logo
Established	1974
Type	Private/Independent Higher Education College
President	Diarmuid Hegarty
Students	7,000
Location	Dublin, Ireland
Campus	Dublin City Centre Urban, 7 acres (28,000 m2)
Affiliations	HETAC, HECA
Website	www.gcd.ie

Griffith College Dublin (GCD) – Irish: Coláiste Uí Ghríofa – is the largest and longest established private third level (higher education) college in the Republic of Ireland.

About Griffith College Ireland

Griffith College Dublin Clock Tower

Established in 1974, with campuses in Dublin, Cork and Limerick, Griffith College is the largest independent higher education college in Ireland with a student population of around 7,000 with 1,400 overseas students from over 77 countries. Griffith College enjoys a strong national and international reputation for student success which is built on over 30 years of teaching experience.

The 7-acre Dublin campus is five minutes from the city centre, where students enjoy the cosmopolitan buzz of the Irish capital, famed for its bars, theatres, music scene and rich cultural heritage. Student Halls of Residence are located on campus, close to the library, creative studios, the student bar and restaurant, gym facilities and the Students Union.

It is named after the former Griffith Barracks on the South Circular Road in Dublin

Front of Griffith College Dublin

Griffith College runs internationally recognised full and part-time degree and higher education qualifications in law, business, computing, journalism, media, design, fashion, music and drama.

The college offers professional accountancy programmes for Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), ACA, CPA and IATI, Griffith College is a goldStar CPA approved Educator.
The ACCA has awarded Griffith College Dublin the Platinum accreditation - the highest recognition by the ACCA, and is also an ACCA CPD registered course provider.

The Professional Law School at Griffith College run Legal Continuing Professional Development(CPD) seminars etc.

The Griffith College Dublin campus is the home of the Leinster School of Music & Drama. Established in 1904, the Leinster School offer theory classes in Music & Drama to groups and individuals subject to availability. The Leinster School is also an examining body and have a Theory Examinations Syllabus with levels from Preparatory to Grade 8.

In 2010 Leinster School of Music & Drama at Griffith College launched the Higher Diploma in Arts in Drama Education(HETAC) which follows on from the Higher Diploma in Arts (Music Education).

Studying in Ireland

Ireland is an exciting place to live and study. The blend of tradition and contemporary living is unique.

Over 4.1 million people enjoy Ireland's mild, oceanic climate and a landscape that stretches across lakes and mountains, and more than 2,000 miles of coastline which attracts over 6 million tourists yearly.

Ireland has had one of the highest economic growth rates in the EU and much of this success can be attributed to the education system. Today the country offers one of the highest standards of education in the world.

In recent years Ireland has become a global centre for the banking, telecommunications, software, and pharmaceutical industries. With an impressive high quality of life and a well-educated workforce, many international companies have set up their European headquarters in the country.

ACA courses were delivered since 1974 and CPA courses shortly after that. In 1983 BAT commenced delivering ACCA courses and has done so ever since, delivering courses not only in Dublin but in Cork, Limerick, Drogheda, Moscow and as of 2008 in Naas, students achieving 268 placings/prize-winners within the last few years. Griffith have run CPA courses in Dublin, Cork and Ennis, Chartered Accountants Ireland (ACA) courses in Dublin, Limerick, Kilkenny and Waterford. In the past courses have been run in Belfast.

History of Griffith College

Diarmuid Hegarty, President of Griffith College

The college was established in 1974 by Diarmuid Hegarty and incorporated in 1978 as the Business and Accounting Training (BAT). Originally located on Morehamption Road, in 1991 the Business and Accounting College moved from Milltown Park, Ranelagh, Dublin 6, to the Griffith Barracks site changed its name to Griffith College Dublin.

In 1979 Griffith College was designated as being an institution under the Irish Government's National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA) Act.
NCEA validated courses meant that students became entitled to receive tax relief under the Irish Government's 1997 Act its successor from 2001 onward the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC).

In 1990 the first degree course was offered by Griffith College in Computer Science and it was validated by the University of Ulster. In 1992 it was followed by a Business Studies degree, this arrangement ceased in 1996 and the degrees were validated by Irish National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA) the predecessor of HETAC.

In 1992 the Tiernan Design School moved to the Griffith Campus becoming the Griffith College Faculty of Design. In the late 1990s Newman College, Dublin became part of Griffith College.

In June 2005, Griffith College Dublin merged with Skerry's College to form Griffith College Cork. Skerry's College had been at the forefront of education in Cork since 1884.

In September 2006 Griffith College Dublin merged with the Mid-West Business Institute to form Griffith College Limerick. The Mid-West Institute had a long-standing reputation as a leading provide of higher education in the mid-west region since 1988.

Griffith College Faculties

Griffith College Dublin campus green

The College is divided into a number of faculties:

• Faculty of Business
• Graduate School of Business
• The School of Professional Accountancy
• Faculty of Law
• The Professional Law School
• Faculty of Computing Science
• Faculty of Journalism & Media Communications
• Faculty of Design
• The Leinster School of Music & Drama
• Faculty of Training & Education
• Corporate Training

Faculty of Business Courses

The Business Faculty delivers Business and Finance courses at certificate and degree levels both part-time and full-time.
In 2009/2010 all Business Faculty programmes were successfully reviewed under HETAC regulations. This allowed for the introduction of modules which focus on enterprise, innovation and business in the wider business environment.
The Faculty of Business offer the following programmes:

• BA (Hons) in Business Studies
• BA (Hons) in International Hospitality Management
• BA (Hons) in Accountancy and Finance
• BA in Marketing
• Higher Certificate in Business

Graduate School of Business Courses

All of the Graduate Business School programmes have been designed to capitalise on the wide variety of career opportunities available in today’s dynamic world of management:

• MBA/MSc in International Business Management
• MSc in Accounting and Finance Management
• MSc in Global Brand Management
• MSc in International Tourism and Hospitality Management
• MSc in International Media Management
• Professional Certificate in International Business Management

School of Professional Accountancy Courses

With forty years' experience providing professional accountancy courses in Ireland, the School of Professional Accountancy at Griffith College offer the following programmes:

• ACCA
• CPA
• CIMA
• Accounting Technicians Ireland
• ACA Tuition

Faculty of Law & the Professional Law School courses

Griffith College Dublin is home to Ireland's largest law school, incorporating the Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Professional Law Schools. The school was shortlisted for Law School of the Year at the prestigious Irish Law Awards 2012 and has again been nominated for the 2013 awards (http://www.irishlawawards.ie).

Undergraduate courses offered at Griffith Law School are:

An aerial view of Griffith College Dublin campus

• LLB (Hons( in Irish Law
• BA in Business and Law
• Diploma in Legal Studies and Practice

And for postgraduates:

• LLM in International Law
• LLM in International Commercial Law
• LLM in International Human Rights Law
• Postgraduate Diploma in International Law
• Postgraduate Diploma in International Human Rights Law
• Postgraduate Diploma in International Commercial Law

The Professional Law School runs courses for the examinations for entry to the Law Society of Ireland, King's Inns, New York State Board of Law Examiners and the California State Bar Association. The college also runs the IILEX Diploma in Legal Studies.
The IILEX and FE1 courses are available via distance learning and at regional locations in Limerick, Waterford and Galway as well as in the Cork in Griffith College Cork.

In 2006 Griffith College, FE1 course students, won eight of the Law Society’s nine entrance examination first-place prizes, and in the past 6 years Griffith Students have won 30 of the Law Society FE1 prizes.

Griffith College Law School Innocence Project

In September 2009 the law school at Griffith College in Dublin introduced a pilot project for final-year law students as well as students from the Journalism Faculty. The Innocence Project reviews claims of wrongful conviction and miscarriages of justice in Ireland. The Griffith College Innocence Project is based on the famous Innocence Project in the USA. The Irish Innocence Project (Irish: Tionscadal Neamhchiontachta na hÉireann) was launched officially by Dr. Greg Hampikian, director of the Idaho Innocence Project and DNA expert for the Georgia Innocence Project in March 2010.

Faculty of Computing Science courses

Computing at Griffith College

Full-time and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Computing Science cover the most current technology areas, including:

• Cloud Computing
• Networking
• Software Development
• Web Development
• Mobile Application

Current undergraduate Computing Science programmes are:

• BSc (Hons) in Computing Science
• BSc in Computing
• Higher Certificate in Computing

And postgraduate:

• MSc in Computing Science
• MSc in Applied Digital Media
• Higher Diploma in Computing – Springboard
• Higher Diploma in Computing
• PG Diploma in Software Development
• PG Diploma in Cloud Computing
• PG Diploma in Networking

Computing Science first year degree students participated in the Robocode Competition, Griffith College won the 2008 Robocode Ireland Championship at the annual Games Fleadh.

Science without Borders

Griffith College Dublin welcomes prospective students from Brazil through the Science Without Borders programme. The Brazilian government are aiming to place over 100,000 Brazilian students in higher education institution throughout Ireland for the next 4 years.
As part of the Science Without Borders programme, which is partly funded by the Brazilian government, Griffith College is offering a variety of undergraduate courses to the students.

Faculty of Journalism & Media Communications courses

Journalism and Media Students at Griffith College

Undergraduates courses are:

• BA (Hons) in Music Production
• Certificate in Music Production for Games
• BA (Hons) in Journalism and Visual Media
• BA in Journalism
• BA in Photographic Media
• Certificate in Photography
• Diploma in Media Techniques: Television and Video
• Diploma in Sound and Music Technology

Postgraduate courses available:

• MA in Journalism and Media Communications
• Certificate in Music Production for Games
• MSc in Applied Digital Media

At the end of each academic year the Media and Journalism Photography graduates organise an end of year Student Photography Exhibition (GCD Graduate Photography Exhibition 2008) and also TV and Video graduates organise a Graduate Video Exhibition to showcase their work.

Faculty of Design courses

Offering the first of its kind Interior Architecture course in Ireland and one of the best-known interior designing courses in Dublin, Griffith College offers both full-time and part-time programmes.

Fashion Design at Griffith College

Undergraduate design courses:

• BA (Hons) in Interior Architecture
• BA in Interior Design
• BA (Hons) in Fashion Design
• BA in Fashion Design
• Diploma in Interior Design

And for postgraduate students:

• MA in Design (Interior Architecture)
• MSc Applied Digital Media
• Scholarship with IMAGE Magazine

Annual Creative Week

The Creative Week takes place annually and showcase the student work of the creative disciplines, Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Fashion Design, TV & Video production, Photography, Digital Media, Sound Engineering, Journalism and Visual Media.

The Leinster School of Music and Drama

Established in 1904 The Leinster School of Music and Drama has a long-standing tradition as both a centre for learning and examining.

As Ireland’s largest independent music academy offering examinations nationwide, The Leinster School of Music & Drama also offers music courses, including the validated Music Diploma (20 credits Certificate in Music Teaching/LSMD Associate Diploma & 40 credits Certificate in Music Teaching/ LSMD Licentiate Diploma). LSMD offer candidates the opportunity to do a Higher Diploma in Arts in Music Education Course. This is the only Higher Diploma in the country offering a specialised music education qualification.
Candidates can progress to this Level 8 course and qualify to teach instrumental music in Ireland and around the world.

Undergraduate courses offered at the Leinster School:

• BA (Hons) in Music Production
• Certificate in Music Production for Games

Faculty of Training and Education

The Training and Education Unit offers a facility for those in education and training with two programmes to choose from:

• Special Purpose Postgraduate Programme in Training and Education (September – January)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Training and education (September–July)

Corporate Training and Short Courses

Griffith Corporate Training is part of Griffith College, the main campus of which is situated on the South Circular Road, Dublin 8, within reach of the city centre and the College's downtown campus beside Tara Street Dart Station.

Business courses include Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations, Sales, Online Marketing and Digital Strategy, Human Resource Management, Office Skills and others.
Professional Development courses include Digital and Social Media Marketing Workshops, Effective Public Speaking, and Project Management.
Also on offer are courses in such fields as Positive Psychology at Work and Counselling / Psychotherapy.
A wide suite of Computer courses range from training for beginners in Microsoft Office end-user applications to Professional Technical Training Courses such as Microsoft and Cisco, Design Courses, Web Design, AutoCAD and Desktop Publishing.

International University Collaborations & the Erasmus Scheme

Griffith College is partnered with a number of international universities in Norway, Germany, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Spain, USA, Mexico, Brazil, India, Korea and China.

Griffith College Dublin is a participant in the Erasmus / Socrates mobility programmes.

The Irish Higher Education System & Griffith College

There are seven publicly funded universities in Ireland and 14 Institutes of Technology. There are also a number of independent higher education colleges and universities. Griffith College is one of the latter.

International Recognition & the Bologna Process

Ireland is a member of the Bologna Process (a European reform process aimed at creating the European Higher Education Area which in turn improves transparency between higher education systems, as well as implementing tools to facilitate recognition of degrees and academic qualifications, mobility, and exchanges between institutions across Europe).
Griffith College is an active promoter of the Bologna Process

The generic outcomes for Irish degrees are laid out in the National Framework of Qualifications:
(www.nfq.ie/nfq/en/FanDiagram/nqai_nfq_08.html ).

In 2006 Ireland became the first country to verify the compatibility of its national framework with the overarching framework of qualifications for the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and Griffith College’s degree programmes adhere to this framework.

Validating Partners

Griffith College works in partnership with a number of validating bodies in Ireland and the UK. This ensures that all programmes are recognised nationally and internationally.

HETAC validation

The Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) is the awarding body for Irish higher education and training institutions outside the university sector.
The international recognition, status and value of HETAC qualifications is assured as the demand for graduates continues to grow at home and abroad. (www.hetac.ie)

HETAC complies with the standards and guidelines set by the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA www.enqa.eu/index.lasso)

Notting Trent University validation (LLB in Irish Law & BA in Business & Law)

Some Griffith College degree programmes are validated by Nottingham Trent University in the UK and delivered on campus at Griffith College. NTU validate the LLB (Hons) in Irish Law and the BA (Hons) in Business and Law. The Nottingham Trent University and Griffith College Dublin - Overseas Partnership Audit Report - The partnership between the University and the College, (19), April 2000</ref>
This collaborative arrangement ensures that students benefit from the combined experience of both institutions. On completion of these programmes students are conferred with an internationally recognised academic award of the Nottingham Trent University.

Griffith College Dublin was approved as a delegated centre of the Nottingham Trent University in September 1998. Since validation, the LLB and BA in Business and Law have been recognised by the Law Society of Ireland as qualifying degrees for the purposes of Final Examinations (Part One).

Nottingham Trent is one of the largest universities in the UK and currently has in excess of 26,000 students. Of the 11 most recent subject reviews, Nottingham Law School has been awarded ten ‘excellent’ ratings by the advanced management and legal training body for lawyers.
Nottingham Business School is noted for its excellence in teaching among UK business schools, having recently achieved a placing in the top ten of the Guardian League Table for Business Management Studies. (www.ntu.ac.uk)

King's Inns Recognition

In 2004, Griffith became the first independent college in the country to have its degrees (LLB and BA in Business & Law) recognised by the Honorable Society of King’s Inns. for the purposes of admission to its annual entrance examinations. Having successfully completed these five examinations, students may then complete the Barrister of Law degree in just one year. which is a professional qualification for practice at the bar.

Applying to Irish Higher Education Institutions

Higher Education places are awarded at Irish universities and colleges according to the results of the Irish leaving certificate (the Irish equivalent of A-Levels).

A-levels, AS-Levels and GCSEs are awarded points that correspond to equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate. However, these points differ from the UCAS tariff.

The Irish Points-based System

GRADE	A-LEVEL	AS-LEVEL	G.C.S.E.
A*	150	-	-
A	135	65	55
B	120	60	40
C	100	50	25
D	75	35	10

Comparing Irish & UK Higher Education Qualifications

For information on comparing UK and Irish higher education qualifications please see this publication: Qualifications can cross boundaries - a rough guide to comparing qualifications in the UK and Ireland
www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/Qualifications-can-cross-boundaries---a-rough-guide-to-comparing-qualifications-in-the-UK-and-Ireland.aspx

Griffith College UK Qualifications Entry Requirements

The entry requirements for undertaking a degree at Griffith College is

- a minimum of 2 grade C A-levels
And
- 4 subjects (including a pass in English and Maths) from either
AS-level (grades A-E) or GCSE (grades A, B or C)

Applying to Griffith College

For Home Undergraduate Students

Griffith College offer two entry routes to their courses - through the CAO system and directly to GCD.
CAO Courses - are only available by applying through the CAO system www.cao.ie. CAO applicants are under 23 years of age and reside in Ireland or in the EU.
There are three exceptions to this application process - LLB (Hons) in Irish Law, BA (Hons) in Business and Law and the BA (Hons) in International Hospitality Management. Applications for these courses can be made either through the CAO system or apply directly to Griffith College online (http://www.gcd.ie/apply-online/)

For International Undergraduate Students

If you wish to apply to an Irish university you must do so through the Central Applications Office(www.cao.ie). This performs a similar function to the UK organisation, UCAS, in that it is a centralised application process.

However, for Griffith College it is not necessary to apply via the CAO or UCAS. Applicants apply directly to the college via the online application. Once submitted Griffith endeavour to inform you of the decision on your application within 72 hours.

For Postgraduate Students

Applicants to all postgraduate programmes apply directly to Griffith College until August 31 each year. For some programmes, applications may even be accepted after this date.

Griffith College Tuition Fees

Independent colleges such as Griffith do charge tuition fees and these are typically around €5,000 (c. £4,500) per year. Please consult www.gcd.ie/fees for more details.

Financing Studies in Ireland

Unfortunately no automatic financial aid or student loan scheme is available in Ireland.

This means that students choosing to study there may very well have to finance their education and living costs independently.

Choosing to study for a higher education degree opens up a wealth of opportunities that are worth investing such:

• to access to careers where it is essential to have a degree
• to learn from inspirational academics who are experts in their field
• to study the subject you enjoy and are passionate about
• to increase your personal and career development

Scholarships for Home Students

Every year Griffith College awards scholarships to home students who show an interest in their courses and can demonstrate an ability or passion for that area, but may not ordinarily be able to afford our tuition fees. Below is some information that describes what the scholarship is, how you apply and who is eligible for it.

Student Exchange Initiative - Free Fees Option

Griffith College has launched a new Student Exchange Initiative for 2013, which allows Irish families to receive financial support for providing accommodation and board to an international student from the College; this will be offset against Griffith College tuition fees, resulting effectively in free fees.
There are 100 places available on the initiative for British and Northern Irish students who might have a relative meeting the criteria in Dublin, Cork or Limerick.
To find out more please visit the Griffith website: www.gcd.ie/freefeesoption/

Student Life at Griffith College

Living in Dublin

There can be few better cities than Dublin, the capital of Ireland, in which to enjoy being a student as it continues to be one of Europe's most exciting and vibrant capital cities.

Dublin has a population of approximately 1.5 million people yet having all the amenities of a big city it still retains a small town atmosphere. As a large percentage of its population is under the age of 35, Dublin is a city of entertainment and culture. It's home to a wide variety of art galleries, museums, theatres, cinemas, shops, restaurants and cafes, nightclubs, zoological gardens and much more.

Dublin is also a university town with a proud tradition of learning and scholarship. Student life adds to the city's legendary ambience and the city attracts young people from all over the world who come to sample its unique atmosphere.

Visit www.gcd.ie/dublin-city/ to watch Dublin Time Lapse 2011, a video, produced by a past Griffith College photography student, Richard Twomey, which captures the essence of Dublin City - all within minutes of the Dublin Campus.

Griffith College Dublin Halls of Residence

Overlooking Dublin's famous Grand Canal, Griffith College is an urban campus steeped in history. It was originally an Army Barracks dating from the 1830s. Griffith Halls of Residence is located on campus and is a new apartment complex, modern in every detail, yet the tasteful design in granite and red brick reflects the beautiful qualities of the original listed buildings. Griffith Halls of Residence
Griffith Halls of residence offer a range of one, two and three bedroom apartments equipped with study area, Cable TV, Laundry Facilities, Cooking facilities and Internet connectivity. The Colleges underground car park for 400 cars, beneath the halls of residence as well as not so secure bike storage. A number of apartments are reserved for students with special needs.

Student Activities

During the year Griffith College students participate in a many activities some as part of their course of study, others as part of student life.

Student Union

See Griffith College Dublin Students' Union

The Student Union common room has pool tables, a jukebox, table-tennis tables and a foosball table and provides an area for relaxation and fun for students between classes or during study week.

GriffFM

During the spring students from the Journalism & Media Faculty operate a radio station from the campus,. The radio station is licenced by the BAI (and the BCI before that) to broadcast for a couple of weeks. This year GriffFM broadcasts on 92.1 FM from 1–15 February , and will be relayed online on. The station airs both hard news and music-oriented programmes produced and presented by second year journalism degree students and postgraduate journalism students.

College & Student Publications

There are a number of college publications. is the newspaper published by Journalism students, where examples of student work get published. The paper won the award for Small College Publication of the Year at the annual Oxygen Student Media (sMedia) Awards in 2005 and 2006, while Griffiti won in 2007. The Griff, The Griffin, 90 Degrees and Maverick are other student publications which have been produced by degree, higher diploma and Print journalism students in the past. X-press magazine was produced in 2008 by third year journalism and media students.
Glór uí Ghríofa (The Voice of Griffith) is the official college newsletter outlining college news, developments and campus life.

Griffith College Facilities & Services

The college facilities include Library, Common room, Computer Laboratories (248 workstations across 10 labs), CAD Lab, Photography Lab, Fitness Room, Sound Studios, Shop and Bar & Restaurant. The college also offers students a career advice service there is also a professional counsellor off campus providing an advice and counseling for personal and non academic issues. Wireless (WiFi 802.11g) access to the college network is also available for laptop users. For some of the courses (such as FE1 Course ) students can view archives of lectures on DVD in a designated DVD viewing room.

Library & Information Services

The College Library provides research and study facilities to students (and to college alumni), the library holds an extensive range of set course texts and background reading material for all college programmes. Library texts are easily accessed via the online Library catalogue.
As well as the large range of up to date texts we have online books. Online books are a quick way to access the most up to date computing references. Texts not held on site can be ordered through our inter-library loans service.
Students also have access to over 15,000 journals, a growing catalogue of multi-media information resources, including CDs, CD-ROMS, VHS, DVD and music scores, and a comprehensive array of on-line databases including Business Source Premier (BSP), ABI-Inform, Westlaw.uk, Lexis-Nexis, HeinOnline, Westlaw.i.e., Emerald, Research for Libraries, Access Asia, Datamonitor, ERIC (fulltext), Communication and Mass Media Complete, Sage Communications, Avery Architectural Index, Design and Applied Arts Index, the ACM.Digital Library (plus SIGs), and Safari Books Online (technical e-books).
Online material is available through moodle, to use moodle students must be fully registered students of the college.

Semester Dates

Griffith College operates a semesterised academic year, with two semesters from September to January and February to June.
A number of the Postgraduate programmes such as the MSc Computing and the MBA/MSc in International Business Management students can commence their programmes either in the summer or winter.

Griffith College Dublin Buildings

• Daniel O'Connell Building - North Wing, International Office, Accounts, DIFC, Admissions, Journalism & Media faculty, Business Faculty.
• Arthur Griffith Building - West Wing, Reception, Lecture Rooms, Library, Fashion Design, Law Faculty, Graduate Business School.
• Meagher Building - houses the Griffith College Students Union
• James Stephens Building - Computer Labs, CAD Labs.
• Richmond Building - Photography Studios, Radio & Sound Engineering Studios.
• Wellington Building - Houses the Faculty of Computing Science, IT Department & Computer Labs.
• Cavalry Buildings - Photography Dark Rooms.
• Stables - Video Editing Studios.
• Academic Facilities Building - Restaurant, Auditorium, Conference Centre, School of Professional Accountancy (Opened in 2006)
• Design Studio (Opened in 2007)

Griffith College Dublin Conference Centre

Griffith Conference Center is located on the college campus and provides modern conference facilities for a variety of uses such as Seminars, AGMs, Meetings, Examinations, TV Studio, Lectures, Training, Product Launches, Corporate events, Summer Schools, Concerts, Recitals, etc. The facilities include a 575 seat Auditorium, as well as smaller Suites and Rooms for hire. The Buildings were officially opened by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in September 2006. The Conference Centre has been used for a variety of functions such as conventions of political parties, medical bodies, industry groups or for television programmes such as the You're a Star auditions.

Distinguished Fellowship Award

The college awards its Distinguished Fellowship award during the graduation ceremony to recognise individuals who have made a significant business or public service contribution on an international scale, past recipients include Nobel Laureates John Hume and Seamus Heaney, President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, Edward Haughey (Lord Ballyedmond), Gillian Bowler, Dr. Martin Naughton.

Diarmuid Hegarty, President of Griffith College with Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland, in 2007

Year	Fellow	Title
2012	Prof Seamus Heaney	Poet Laureate
2011	Mr Peter Sutherland	Barrister & former Attorney General of Ireland
2010	Ms Catherine Day	Secretary- General of the European Commission
2009	Lord Diljit Rana MBE	House of Lords
2008	Mr Denis O’Brien	Chairman, DOB Group
2007	President Mary McAleese	President of Ireland
2006	John Hume	Former MP for Foyle, MEP, MLA of Northern Ireland Assembly, Leader of the SDLP, Nobel Peace Laureate
2006	Dr Martin Naughton	Founder & Chairman, Glen Dimplex Group, Chairman Intertrade Ireland
2005	Ms Gillian Bowler	Chairman: Failte Ireland, Irish Life & Permanent PLC, Budget Travel
2004	Lord Ballyedmond OBE	Chairman, Norbrook Laboratories Ltd

Professional Excellence Award

The College awards its Professional Excellence Award to those who have achieved excellence in their careers, at the annual graduation ceremony and the recipient is invited to address the graduation. Recipients include Richard Roche, Dr. Veronica Dunne and in 2007 journalist, broadcaster and historian, John Bowman.

Year	Fellow	Title
2012	Mr Terence O’Rourke	Managing Partner, KPMG
2011	Mr Paul Rellis	Managing Director, Microsoft
2011	Fr Peter McVerry SJ	Founder, Peter McVerry Trust for Dublin Homeless
2010	Mr Louis Copeland	Master Tailor
2009	Mr George Hook	Journalist and Broadcaster
2008	Mr Kevin Moran	Gaelic and Soccer Footballer
2007	Mr John Bowman	Journalist, Broadcaster and Historian
2006	Mr Frank Ryan	Founder Member of the Society for Designers (now the Institute of Designers in Ireland)
2005	Dr Veronica Dunne	Internationally acclaimed opera singer, mentor & teacher, Royal Irish Academy of Music & Leinster School of Music
2004	Mr Richard Roche	Journalist, Author, Member of Irish Council for the Training of Journalists & Founder of Griffith College Journalism School
2003	Ms Sheila Murphy	Director, Leinster School of Music & Drama

Well-Known Griffith College Staff & Graduates

Journalist and Broadcaster Vincent Browne lectured in Journalism and Media at Griffith College Dublin.

Author Cecelia Ahern is a Journalism graduate from Griffith College.

Entrepreneur and Griffith College alumnus Padraig O’Feinneadha was elected president of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in 2006.

Will Cullen who featured in the Powerade 2007 nevergiveup campaign is a Journalism graduate of Griffith.

Mark Butler and Neville O’Boyle founders of BabySkip studied Computing Science at Griffith College.

Newstalk reporter Henry McKean is a Journalism graduate from Griffith College.

RTE announcer Laura Woods is also a Journalism graduate.

Controversial former Government press secretary Frank Dunlop studied for an LLB in Irish Law, graduating in 2007. Dublin Gaelic footballer Mark Vaughan also studied at Griffith College.

Greystones Cllr Stephen Stokes is a former Students Union president of Griffith College.

Dancer Dearbhla Lennon is a Journalism graduate and 2004 Griffith Student of the Year, toured with Riverdance and won Celebrity Jigs N' Reels in 2007 represented Ireland in the 2008 Eurovision Dance Competition and is a reporter on The Afternoon Show on RTE and An Jig Gig, an Irish Dance talent show on TG4.

Griffith graduate Aoiffe Madden was a contestant on the 2009 Apprentice TV show.

Some more recent graduates of the LSMD at Griffith College include TV Personality and MTV Presenter Laura Whitmore and Niall Kinsella, finalist on the Ireland's Got Talent TV programme.

Eurosong 2010 Finalist, Leanne Moore, graduated with a postgraduate diploma in Journalism and Media Communications from Griffith College.

LLB Student Sean O'Quigley won the Christina Murphy Memorial Trophy the individual prize in the Irish Times Debate 2010.

Griffith College Expansion and Developments

Over the years Griffith College has expanded beyond its base in Dublin.

Having previously established its Professional Accountancy Programmes in Cork in 2000, offering training in ACCA, CIMA, CPA and IATI, Griffith College acquired Skerry’s College Cork in 2005, forming Griffith College Cork the college runs a variety of full- and part-time courses in Business, Law, Media & Communications, Design, Secretarial and Office skills.

In 2006 Griffith College opened in Limerick with the acquisition of the Mid West Business Institute, creating Griffith College Limerick. In 2009 Griffith College Limerick moved into new premises which were officially opened by the Minister of Defence Willie O'Dea T.D. on 23 January 2009.

There is also one campus based in Moscow which mainly offers accountancy courses.

In 2009 the Professional Law courses were made available completely online - such as the FE1 and IILEX courses.

Latest College News - Spring 2013

Griffith College Cork has expanded to a 5.3 acre campus on Wellington Road, Cork City, on the former site of St. Patrick’s Hospital and Marymount Hospice.
The College will begin moving a selection of courses to this historic landmark on the northern ridge of the city over the next number of months. The Campus will be called ‘Griffith College Cork, Wellington Road Campus’.

Griffith College will operate a third level Residential College. Teaching will commence at the Wellington Road campus in Summer 2013 with an English Language Residential School.

By August 2013 all evening undergraduate, postgraduate, short-term and professional programmes in the areas of Law, Business, Journalism and Media Communications, Accountancy and Drama will move to the facility.

Diarmuid Hegarty, President of Griffith College, commented; “We are very pleased to have expanded into this new campus which enables us to enhance our student offerings even further. Our new facilities will not only improve education opportunities, but having a full campus will improve the over-all student experience.”

St. Angela’s College, Cork will sub-let the former hospital and hospice areas of the campus for three years, to facilitate a major renovation of their existing school, and the construction of state-of-the-art new buildings, on St. Patrick’s Hill. Their Principal, Mr Curran, commented, ‘We are delighted to be engaging with Griffith College, to create a new educational campus in the city centre, and to continue the 125year old St. Angela’s tradition of educating young women in the city centre.’

The St. Angela’s Development Plan has been in place for some time, and their architects, O’Donnell and Toomey, have designed an innovative adaptation of the old Marymount buildings. The conversion of Marymount will provide St. Angela’s College with extra facilities including more classrooms, ICT and Science facilities. Within the campus Griffith College and St. Angela’s will operate as separate entities, having different entrances and buildings.

St. Patrick’s Hospital and Marymount Hospice occupied this building until 2011, when, 141 years after it first opened its doors, the much loved institution relocated all of its services to new premises at Curraheen in Cork.

Kevin O’Dwyer, the Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, said; “We welcome this development as it is an ideal use of a lovely building that has served the hospital so well since 1870.”

For more information on the new facility or programme offerings from Griffith College Cork please log on to www.gcc.ie

Griffith College Graduations

The college graduation ceremonies take place over two days each November in the Conference Center. In previous years the ceremony took place in Royal Hospital Kilmainham in 2004 and 2005, and St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin the year before that.
The 2002 graduation was addressed by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Education Minister Noel Dempsey address the 2003 Graduation and in 2005 justice minister Micheal McDowell addressed Law graduates. In attendance are graduates with their families and friends, representatives of Validation Bodies, as well as political and diplomatic dignitaries.
At the graduation ceremony there are prizes awarded such as HETAC Student of the Year Award and Best Academic Achievements for each faculty and school.

Picture gallery

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External links

• Griffith College Dublin - official website
• Griffith College Cork
• Griffith College Limerick
• Higher Education and Training Awards Council - official website
• National Qualification Authority of Ireland - official website
• Nottingham Trent University - official website
• Bologna Process - official website
• Griffith College Main Twitter Account
• Griffith College UK Students Twitter Account
• Griffith College Pictures on Twitpic
• Griffith College RSS Feed